Rolls-Royce reports that its prototype subsea tidal turbine, located off the Orkney Islands, Scotland, has successfully generated and fed over 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electrical power into the national grid. The 500 kilowatt (kW) tidal turbine prototype was designed and built by Rolls-Royce’s subsidiary, Tidal Generation Limited.

Rolls-Royce’s Vice-President of Power Ventures, Robert Stevenson, explains, “Rolls-Royce has injected its world-class engineering expertise and incubation processes to deliver this innovative renewable energy project. Reaching the 100 megawatt hours milestone highlights the significant potential of cleaner, greener tidal power as part of a diversified UK energy mix. Having proven the capability of tidal energy, Rolls-Royce is well placed to meet any future demand with larger, more efficient technology on a commercial scale.”

Deep water tidal stream power generation is seen as a reliable and predictable energy source, making it a valuable renewable option. Rolls-Royce tidal technology could generate up to 30TWh (terawatt-hours) of UK electricity, the equivalent to more than seven percent of existing UK electricity needs or enough to power three million homes.